Social Context and Sexual Identity

• In Event: 563 - Regular Session. Sociology of Sexuality: Sexualities in Interaction

Abstract

Prior research has documented greater longitudinal change in sexual identity and higher rates of non-heterosexuality and among women than among men, particularly, higher rates of bisexual or “heteroflexible” identities. Yet researchers have not yet considered the social structure of sexual flexibility. I argue that sexual flexibility implies context-dependent and experience-dependent sexual identities. Therefore, factors which make heterosexual relationships more available and more desirable will tend to increase exclusively heterosexual sexual identity among women while factors which make heterosexual relationships less available or less desirable will tend to decrease exclusively heterosexual identity among women. Consistent with these expectations, I find that characteristics which improve women’s heterosexual romantic opportunities—such as higher educational attainment, physical attractiveness, and avoidance of early childbearing—encourage women to adopt and maintain an exclusively heterosexual identity. In contrast, less romantically-advantaged women tend to move away from exclusive heterosexuality over time. These patterns are very different for men, for whom social context and opportunity has less relevance to sexual identity.

Author

• Elizabeth Aura McClintock, University of Notre Dame